Hampden Estate Pagos

The Hampden Estate Pagos is a co-production with Velier and is a pot style rum from the Hampden distillery in Jamaica. An age is not specified but I would estimate the rum to be 6-8 years old. The rum was allowed to store in ex sherry casks and was bottled at 52% cask strength. Naturally without artificial colors or sugar. There are 1200 bottles.

The Pagos shows classic Hampden notes in the nose and reminds me strongly of the Hampden Overproof. Esters, fermented fruit, banana and pineapple dominate. But there is also a surprising amount of spice and wood. The cinnamon is very noticeable. Here the rum stands out. All in all, everything is easy and dignified. On the palate, the rum is very drinkable. The 52% are very well integrated and do not make any demands. Fermented fruit, some solvents and banana meet a more woody profile. The rum becomes spicier, shows a slight sweetness and berries. The finish is a bit bitter and there is more wood and this is where I find the sherry cask most likely, as a nice sweetness remains.

All in all, the Pagos is a perfect daily sipper. The rum is not overly demanding but is not boring either. Unfortunately, the hype caught up with this bottling and the prices were quickly far too high. I was lucky to get a bottle for a fair price thanks to the great rum community!!! Thanks.

Der Hampden Estate Pagos ist eine Coprodution mit Velier und ist ein Pot Style Rum der Hampden Distillerie auf Jamaika. Ein Alter ist nicht angegeben aber ich würde den Rum auf 7-8 Jahre schätzen. Der Rum durfte in Ex Sherry Fässern lagern und wurde mit 52% Fassstärke abgefüllt. Natürlich ohne Farbstoffe oder Zucker. Es gibt 1200 Flaschen.

Der Pagos zeigt in der Nase erst einmal klasische Hampden Noten und erinnert mich stark an den Overproof. Ester, vergorene Frucht, Banane und Ananas dominieren. Aber da ist auch erstaunlich viel Würze und Holz. Der Zimt ist sehr auffällig. Hier hebt der Rum sich ab. Insgesamt aber alles ruhig und gediegen. Am Gaumen zeigt der Rum sich trinkfreudig. Die 52% sind sehr gut eingebunden und fordern nicht. Vergorene Frucht, etwas Lösungsmittel und Banane treffen auf ein doch sehr holziges Profil. der Rum wird würziger, zeigt eine leichte Süße und Beeren. Der Abgang wird etwas bitter und es kommt mehr Holz und hier finde ich dann am ehesten das Sherry Fass, da eine schöne Süße stehen bleibt.

Alles im allen ist der Pagos ein perfekter Daily Sipper. Der Rum fordert nicht übermäßig ist aber auch nicht langweilig. Leider holt der Hype diese Abfüllung ein und die Preise waren schnell viel zu hoch. Habe eine Flasche zu einem fairen Preis bekommen. Danke an die Rum Community.

A sherry finished rum but very "backgrounded" due to dominant typical "jamaicaness" of "rotten and overriped" (fruity) tones and whole lot of funky nose. A plenty of stuff can be recognized in the taste and nose according to card (https://hampdenestaterum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/hampden-pAGOS-sales-sheet-eng.jpg) but all I reckognized is the peppery and kicky finish that was not (so) present at my earlier model of Hampden.
Unlike testing, reviewing these limited yearly Hampdens gets somewhat boring, because the differences and nuances are just too small while so many models. I can't really see any improvement as compared to "Hampden Estate 2016 The Younger LROK 5-Year" (use search button) which my buddy got for me for about 1/3 value of this sherry cask but that's totally occassional and random information as many Hampdens are hard to get; therefore price tag hardly has any relevance for reviewing. I am giving here only 8/10 as it costs a blast and the rum models do not actually differ that much but the rum has my full recommendation. I am yet to drink anything from Hampden that would be "mainstream boring" or "little less perfect".
P.S. we tried this one compared to Smith & Cross Jamaica sold for a fragment of Pagos' price and we concluded S&C to be a "tamed" and rounder version of Pagos with less burn and perhaps sweeter, gentlier smell. Even though I've rated Smith & Cross as 9/10, I find the quality of both very equal; Pagos may even be a tad better but again - the price tag... Yay!

I'm a "spanish" style lover, so it's a bit of hard stuff for me. BUT! In her class it's a nice choise. Nice taste, the sherry absolutly dominant

7,5: Nose-The 52% gives it a sort of firm and easy elegance that isn’t out to wreak havoc on your sinuse. It is funky all the way and the initial aromas are of a musky, winey, almost tawny old port. It’s chock full of baking spices like cinnamon, cloves, a touch of nutmeg; it channels a soft line of olive oil and saline, before blooming into all sorts of additional stuff that shows off the funk: pineapples, mangoes, oranges and apples that are too ripe, plus florals, acetones and even some crushed hazelnuts and pistachios. There’s a lot to unpack here for anyone who takes their time with it.
9: The palate is somewhat less forward. It’s lightly floral, and provides tastes of a patchouli air freshener and laundry detergent, cinnamon and cloves again, creamed rice, funky and fruity, with an on and off bite that’s fun to experience. There’s somewhat more nuttiness here, but also more tart fruits: passion fruit, cherries, mangoes, strawberries and some yoghurt. I particularly liked the sense of dusty spices that hung around, and while not overly sweet, the rum does have a sugary, liqueur-y background to it that works well with the caramel, vanilla and bananas you end up with.
9:The finish is pretty fine too – solid, long, not obnoxious – it doesn’t flaunt a bunch of esters in your face and blare “here I am!” like a loud and bombastic opinion you didn’t ask for, just quietly dials everything down so that instead of getting one thing after another, it’s like one thing after another is subtracted, until all you’re left with is some flambeed bananas, oranges, nuts, unsweetened chocolate and Wine.

The typical Hampden notes are present. The sherry gently shows itself on the nose and at the back end of the palate. It is all raisins and sweetness.

This is a good bottle, but I think the sherry dulls the Hampdenness that I love and expect.

Classic hampden in aroma, fruity, sweet. Taste full of flovers, honey, hint of sherry cask. In the end hint of flovers and coconut. 52% is fine and good combination with flavours, it is not readable in taste (52%).

- vůně velmi příjemná, typický Hampden + sladkost, rozinky, dochuť sherry
- chuť velmi příjemná, nasládlá, mix Hampden + sherry

Nose - nicely sweet, fresh. Strong pineapple, vanilla, cherries, red fruits, hints of oak and butter, some solvents and tropical fruits in background. Very playful smell, charming.

Taste - Pleasantly sweet, red fruits, oak, sugar candies. Little of bitterness. Some notes of cherries. Really good fruit bomb.

After compared to its main competitor - Vieux Sajous Lustau Oloroso, I changed from 9 to 10 points... Tastes much better, even I thought Vieux Sajous would beat it.

The sherry casks complemented the classic Hampden funk beautifully with notes of raisins, dates, Hazlenuts, raspberries, tropical fruit, figs, and honey. Had this side by side with Appleton estate 1993 29 year and this was better.

Nose: Raisins, Hazlenuts, Bananas, Coconuts, Pineapples, Figs, Plantains, Papayas, Passion Fruit, Strawberries, Luxardo Cherries, Dates, Raspberries, White Chocolate

Palate: Raisins, Hazlenuts, Plums, Dark Chocolate, Pineapples, Bananas, Hogo, Raspberries, Passion Fruit, Date Syrup, Treacle, Brown Sugar, Root Beer, Honey, Sultanas, Mocha

Finish: Caramel Popcorn, Raisins, Butterscotch, Fig Newtons, Honey, Raspberries, White Chocolate, Green Mangoes, Pineapples, Passion Fruit

Po destilaci zrál rum výhradně v 500l sudech po sherry z oblasti Jerezu. Jedná se o první Hampden v historii palírny dostařovaný v sudech po sherry (kolaborace mezi La Maison du Whisky a Velierem).

Aroma: Nasládlé, květinové, tropické ovoce, výrazné sherry a závan jódu.
Chuť: Hutná - tropické ovoce, lehce kořenitá a příjemně nasládlá.
Dozvuk: Příjemná nahořklost, sušené ovoce (rozinky). Dlouhý.
Sladkost: 1/3
Ochutnán vzorek
Pohodový Hampden s výraznou sherry stopou.